One of the things we noticed during our most recent trip to
Walt Disney World was security. We were
very familiar with bag checks at the entrance to any of the four theme
parks. We know how to strategically
select bag checkers knowing that they alternate sides and spent minimum time
waiting for my cross body purse and the husband’s backpack to be checked.
We had heard varying reports about increased security
measures including scanners/metal detectors.
We had heard that all guests were scanned, but that rumor was quickly
dispelled. While there are scanners at
all of the four theme parks, guests are selected at random for further
screening. We also witnessed dogs being
used at various parks for screening and security purposes.
Random screening?
Maybe. All but one time while
entering a theme park, the husband was selected for further screening and had
to go through the scanner. The first
time he was silent. The second time he
chuckled. The third time, my normally
compliant guy, became stern and asked if he was being targeted. He didn’t get much of a response when he
asked, but we watched many tall men go through the scanners. His vocalizations became more pronounced each
time he was selected for further screening.
He even devised a plan—go to the bag checker that is the
furthest away from the scanner. That was
the time it worked and he didn’t get checked for further screening! It was also the same day that he was
traveling solo with the boy as I had gone to the park earlier without them AND
I was picked for further screening!
We watched as security became more prevalent the closer we
got to the July 4th holiday. Maybe
the increase in security was in direct correlation to the increase in crowds.
We watched as some guests had their selfie sticks
confiscated at security and then could pick them up at park closing, if they
went to the trouble of turning it in at the proper location. We watched some guests put their selfie
sticks in the garbage after getting them confiscated. And, we watched some guests pass through
security with selfie sticks as we saw them using them in the parks—most often
as we were utilizing Photopass Photographers.
I guess where there’s a great place for a photo there may be selfie
sticks.
And, even with the increase in security, what we also
noticed was that at Walt Disney World water parks, there were no bag
searches. Guests walked in with bags and
even coolers, no searches. The husband
asked about this when he was getting pulled for additional screening at a park
and the guards were silent or unknowing.
Having noticed all of this, we want to say that we
appreciate all the Walt Disney World does to make guests safe. It’s just that we see holes in their system
and obviously there isn’t consistency.
Security/bag check confiscates selfie sticks while Photopass
Photographers tell guests not to extend them all the way when they use them. We know selfie sticks aren’t to be used on any of the
rides/attractions, hence the confiscation at bag check. Our advice—don’t bring them!
We comply with all security requests; even when the husband
was questioning about water park security and feeling targeted, he complied
with all requests.
Be prepared for additional security measures during your
next visit.
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